The Greatest Article of All Time (GOAT): How To Tell A Great Story
Introduction
Human civilization began with storytelling. From the cave paintings of our distant ancestors to today’s most popular blockbusters, stories have altered history and human behavior- and they’ve even kept us connected. We explore how storytelling has evolved, the science behind why it works, what makes stories so compelling, and finally, where the future of storytelling may be headed.
The Evolution of Storytelling
Storytelling is as old as humanity and fascinates this generation until now. The oldest stories, back among us hundreds of thousands of years ago — all human cultures everywhere have forever told one another our past and hopes through stories. The earliest stories were told in writing, oral format, or cave paintings.
Storytelling was one of the most revered professions in ancient cultures. They were the historians, nurses/physicians, and entertainment for their people. As human societies developed, other forms of storytelling followed. The advent of writing meant that stories could be documented and carried from generation to generation across distances far enough for rich literary traditions.
That all changed in the 15th century with Johannes Gutenberg’s arrival and his introduction…
